Ringling upends No. 6 Elmore City for district title

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The Daily Ardmoreite

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Posted Sep. 29, 2013 at 7:00 AM

Posted Sep. 29, 2013 at 7:00 AM

ELMORE CITY

The Ringling softball team had a huge hill to climb, facing No. 6-ranked Elmore City-Pernell. Having lost the first game of the district tournament, the Blue Devils were able to escape elimination with a win Thursday night, and followed up with a clinching 8-2 win Friday to advance to the regional tournament.

In the third game, Angel Stoker went seven innings, giving up two runs while striking out seven and walking four to improve to 14-10 on the season. Bailey Tolliver was 3-for-5 and Britann McGahey was 2-for-4 with a home run to lead the way.

"It was a total team effort," Ringling coach Steve Pybas said. "It was fun and we are excited to be playing this week."

Meagan Cunningham was 2-for-4 with a double, and Lacy Rutledge was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

The game was a far cry from Game 1, in which Ringling stumbled out of the gate in a 9-3 loss. The Blue Devils committed six errors behind Stoker, who went five innings. Tolliver came on in relief for two innings. Stoker led the team at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double.

With the season on the line, Tolliver got the start and went five innings in the 6-3 win. Stoker came in and picked up the save. Tolliver was also strong at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple. Ashley Murray and Chandler Smith were 2-for-4 and Stoker had a triple.

"In the first game, the errors were on routine plays," Pybas said. "Once we settled down, we started being more disciplined at the plate, and scored runs in the sixth and seventh inning.

"In the second game, Bailey gave us a boost. She has been hurt for about a month, and she came in and did great."

Ringling will find out Monday who its opponent will be when the OSSAA releases regional assignments.